Lifelong Mormon. Started questioning the church's history at about 16-17, went through the temple, been in an Elders' Quorum presidency, called to the Germany Frankfurt mission in 2000, busted out of the Missionary Training Center in the dead of night after four days, hopped a cab and took a plane back home to Colorado.

Kept going to church a few more years until I was absolutely certain the church isn't what it claims to be, then stopped attending. Kept studying, however, and continue to be fascinated by the culture and history of the church to this day. Family is still all "true-believing" Mormon, and I refuse to have my name removed from the records of the church. You could call me a New Order Mormon (http://www.newordermormon.org/). Culturally Mormon, perhaps, for the past 8-10 years or so. I think of myself a bit like a Jew who no longer believes in god but is still very much "Jewish." I'm Mormon on my own terms- I appreciate a lot about the church, I think its history is totally bizarre; while I don't think the supernatural claims are in any way true, I think the church is full of good, crazy people doing their best to be decent human beings. I love me some Mormons, and talking about Mormonism. Looking into a graduate program on religious studies to further my research into the church. Feel free to ask me anything about the church- I'll answer honestly.